WASHINGTON, D.C., April 29, 2020 – At the close of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Virtual Highlights Meeting, Joseph C. Napoli, M.D., assumed the role of Speaker of the APA Assembly of District Branches.

Napoli is a board-certified psychiatrist in Fort Lee, New Jersey, a Partner and Co-Director of Resiliency, LLC, and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Board Certified in Psychiatry, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA. He is Past President of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association (NJPA), a district branch of the APA. He has served many years as a Representative to the APA Assembly and on the Assembly Executive Committee.

He is a certified Disaster Response Crisis Counselor for the State of New Jersey and a former Disaster Mental Health Services volunteer for the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. He received the APA Bruno Lima Award in 2003 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the care and understanding of the victims of disasters. He received his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his residency and an internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity to lead the Assembly as we consider and discuss the issues important to the profession of psychiatry and to improving the treatment of our patients,” Napoli said. “I am honored to have been selected for this role by my colleagues.”

The APA Assembly is a deliberative, advisory body to the APA Board of Trustees. The Assembly represents and serves the needs of the district branches and state associations and recommends actions to the Board of Trustees. The Assembly is officiated by a Speaker, Speaker-Elect and Recorder.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,800 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.